Postgraduate Educational Program in Integrative Psychotherapy

EQF Level 7​

Curriculum for Integrative Psychotherapy

Introduction and Objectives of the Educational Program

The Postgraduate Educational Programme “Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy” is based on the standards of the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP) and the European Association for Integrative Psychotherapy (EAIP), as well as the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). The programme is accredited by the EAP and EAIP and is delivered as a comprehensive education lasting 4.5 academic years, with a total of 3,600 learning hours and 120 ECTS/ECVET credits.

The program is designed to address the increasing demands and specific challenges in adult psychotherapy, taking into account the developmental context, family dynamics, and broader social environment. Special emphasis is placed on the promotion of mental health and preventive activities at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels as key strategies for preserving mental health.

Integrative psychotherapy takes a holistic approach to the client, combining theoretical foundations and practical methods from various modalities, including psychoanalytic, gestalt, systemic, cognitive-behavioral, transactional, and neuroscientific approaches. Through the integration of these theoretical models, clinical practice, and supervision, the program enables participants to acquire specialized competencies for professional work in the field of psychotherapy.

The program is based on European and global educational standards, as well as the guidelines of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the World Health Organization (WHO) Action Plan, and UNICEF strategies. It emphasizes lifelong professional and personal development, with a high level of ethical standards and a multidisciplinary approach.

The main goal of the program is to train professionals for professional and ethical work in the field of integrative psychotherapy, with the ability for critical thinking, reflection, and adaptation to the individual needs of clients. The program enables participants to acquire competencies for work in various clinical and preventive contexts, in accordance with the highest standards of European psychotherapy education.

Duration and Structure of the Educational Program

The educational curriculum is aligned with the EQF document of the European Association for Psychotherapy (EAP) for EAPTI (European Accredited Psychotherapy Training Institutes) and the reference framework “Mapping ECP Training Hours to ECTS”, ensuring the highest standards of education and professional practice in accordance with European norms (EQF).

The educational program lasts 4.5 years, with a total of 3600 learning hours, divided into:

• Contact hours (theory, methodology, and research) → 1124 hours
• Clinical practice → 400 hours
• Supervised practice and clinical work → 220 hours
• Assessment – Evaluation of knowledge and competencies (exams, written assignments, case studies, practical evaluation) → 486 hours
• Personal growth and development → 260 hours
• Independent learning (literature review, exam preparation, reflection, research) → 1110 hours

🔹 Total number of hours 3600 → 120 ECTS

The program is aligned with European and international standards of psychotherapy education and ensures a high level of professional and clinical competencies. The curriculum follows a natural progression in the acquisition of knowledge and skills: from theoretical foundations, through clinical skills, to supervision and research.

Program Content / Modules

Literature

Overall Overview of the Educational Program: 3600 hours – ECVET/ECTS 120

Learning Outcomes in the Cognitive Domain

The educational program in Integrative Psychotherapy equips participants to acquire advanced professional and academic competencies through the integration of theoretical knowledge, clinical skills, and reflective practice. The curriculum is designed in accordance with European standards for psychotherapy education (EAP, EAIP) and encompasses the development of competencies necessary for ethical and interdisciplinary work in psychotherapy.

The focus of the educational program is on developing the following key areas:

• Clinical skills – Participants will develop the ability to assess, plan, and conduct the therapeutic process using an integrative approach, with an understanding of complex clinical presentations and psychological conditions. They will enhance their capacity for therapeutic formulation and adopt methods for continuous monitoring and evaluation of therapeutic outcomes.
• Professional Competencies – The programme enables participants to acquire professional knowledge and skills in line with the highest standards of psychotherapy practice. The focus is on integrating various therapeutic methods, developing an individual working style, and applying psychotherapy models in clinical and preventive practice.
• Personal Growth and Development – Participants will enhance their reflective capacities, emotional literacy, and therapeutic presence, developing an authentic professional identity. Understanding their own emotional responses and unconscious processes contributes to more effective therapeutic work and higher-quality client relationships.
• Supervision and Reflective Practice – The programme includes supervised client work through professional guidance and progress evaluation. Participants will develop the ability for self-reflection and critical thinking, learn how to give and receive constructive feedback, and understand ethical and professional standards within the supervision process.
• Multidisciplinary and Intersectoral Collaboration – The ability to work in interdisciplinary teams enables participants to collaborate effectively with professionals from different fields, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and educators. The programme develops capacities for systemic assessment and integration of treatment through teamwork.
• Application of Integrative Techniques – Participants will acquire the ability to apply different psychotherapy techniques tailored to the individual needs of clients, including body-oriented methods, projective techniques, dream work, and neurobiologically informed approaches. The focus is on flexibility in the selection and application of therapeutic interventions.
• Theoretical–Practical Integration – The programme connects contemporary theoretical and neuroscientific models with practical work through supervision, seminars, training, and case analyses. Participants will develop the capacity to synthesise various therapeutic modalities and implement innovative approaches in psychotherapy practice.
• Development of Therapeutic Interventions – Understanding the process of change in psychotherapy and the mechanisms that support therapeutic growth, as well as developing the capacity to individualise therapeutic interventions in accordance with the specific needs of each client.
• Ethics and Professionalism – Participants will gain a deep understanding of ethical principles in psychotherapy work, with an emphasis on respecting boundaries, confidentiality, and responsibility towards clients. The programme fosters reflective ethical development and the integration of professional standards into everyday therapeutic practice.

The program meets the criteria of good clinical practice, ensuring a high standard of education and research in accordance with European and international norms and core competencies.

Learning Outcomes in the Area of Communication Skills

Participants will develop advanced communication skills essential for effective work in the psychotherapeutic context, with a special emphasis on therapeutic relationship, professional ethics, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

1. Developing therapeutic dialogue based on empathy and authenticity, utilizing active listening, reflection, and therapeutic questioning.
2. Ability to work with resistance, communication breakdowns, and intense emotional reactions, with awareness of nonverbal communication and bodily signals in the therapeutic process.
3. Effective and professional communication with interdisciplinary teams, including psychiatrists, psychologists, educators, and other mental health professionals.
4. Application of ethical principles in communication through respect for confidentiality, transparency, and professional boundaries, along with maintaining clinical and administrative documentation in accordance with data protection standards.
5. Adapting communication approaches to the context of different organizations and support systems, respecting cultural and contextual factors in working with clients and their families.
6. Developing academic and professional skills through writing and structuring papers, presenting findings, and actively participating in scientific discussions and conferences.

Learning Outcomes for Self-Learning/Self-Education Skills

Participants will be equipped to:

1. Search, analyze, and evaluate relevant literature in the fields of integrative psychotherapy, developmental psychology, and therapeutic interventions.
2. Monitoring contemporary scientific research and applying acquired knowledge in clinical practice.
3. Adopting effective strategies for independent learning and professional development.
4. Participants will develop the ability to identify reliable sources and scientifically grounded concepts, critically analyzing literature and research papers relevant to integrative psychotherapy.
5. Through comparison of different psychotherapeutic models, participants will understand their specificities and integration into their own practice, with a focus on the methodological foundations of integrative psychotherapy.
6. The ability to assess the relevance of scientific findings and their practical application will be developed by analyzing the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions and theoretical models.
7. Participants will prepare literature reviews, connect scientific insights with clinical practice, and actively contribute to the profession through research projects and professional papers.

Andragogical Approach and Learning Methods

The program is implemented using andragogical principles (voluntariness, appropriateness, cost-effectiveness, gradual progression…) as well as traditional and non-traditional learning methods, based on the principle of active participant engagement through experiential learning, reflective and transformational learning. The curriculum is systematically delivered through the following methods:

• Lectures
• Presentations
• Discussions
• Workshops
• Work in Small Groups (including personal therapy in the role of student-client)
• Roles and Simulations (role-plays)
• Live Practical Demonstrations
• Seminars

Special emphasis is placed on the development of reflective and critical thinking, creativity, analytical and synthetic abilities, and active participation in the educational process.

In accordance with the problem-based approach in implementing the andragogical curriculum, the delivery of individual modules may be subject to changes in sequence depending on participants’ needs (availability of lecturers, participants’ obligations, possibilities of conducting classes outside the Academy premises, etc.).

Assessment of Knowledge and Competencies

The educational program enables each participant to demonstrate acquired knowledge and practical skills through various evaluation methods, taking into account individual learning styles and areas for further development.

Assessment methods include:

• Seminar papers, essays, written assignments
• Presentations
• Clinical evaluations
• Assessment (personal, group, individual therapists, supervisors, mentors)
• Practical work (practicum)
• Activity Records
• Reflective journal
• Written and oral exam

The final exam is based on a case study and live practical demonstration, where participants present and defend their acquired competencies.

Each module in the program includes at least two evaluation points, combining theoretical and practical aspects through various assessments of knowledge and skills.

Methods of Evaluation

Evaluation of student work within the educational program includes written assignments (seminar paper, essay), oral presentation, and the final exam (case study, practical work, theoretical review, and defense of the work).

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Target Group

The program is designed for professionals in the field of mental health and related disciplines who wish to become integrative psychotherapists, acquiring competencies to work with individuals, couples, families, and groups in various psychotherapeutic contexts.

Duration and Mode of Delivery

• Duration: 4 years and 6 months (part-time study)
• Mode of Delivery: In-person (face-to-face) classes or online instruction (as needed)
• Total Number of Learning Hours: 3600 hours

Total Learning Hours and Activity Distribution

The educational program encompasses a total of 3600 learning hours, distributed across the following categories:

• Contact hours (theory, methodology, research, defense of seminar and research papers, and final thesis defense) → 1124 hours
• Clinical practice → 400 hours
• Supervised practice and clinical work → 220 hours
• Assessment (Self-assessment and group assessment) – Self-evaluation and group evaluation of knowledge and competences (exams, written assignments, oral and written reflection, case studies, practical evaluation) → 486 hours
• Personal growth and development → 260 hours
• Independent learning hours (literature study, maintaining a personal and professional journal, exam preparation, reflection, research) → 1110 hours

🔹 Total number of hours 3600 → 120 ECTS

The program is aligned with European and international standards of psychotherapy education and ensures a high level of professional and clinical competencies.

⚠️ This curriculum and all its parts are protected by copyright. Unauthorized copying, distribution, or use for any purpose without prior written permission from BHIDAPA, the European Accredited Psychotherapy Training Institute and founder of the Academy of Psychotherapy, is prohibited.

BHIDAPA, January 30, 2025 (published)